IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This blog will no longer maintained - please go to http://yorktiger.wordpress.com/ to follow this tiger's premiership season.

thanks - and good luck!

A - this blog and not much else.

No apologies for this blog turning into a traveller's journal.  Last week we were huddled around a car radio in the Lake District, this week news of Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City comes from the azure-tinted Sorrentine Peninsula.

Sorry it's late (I know I have one reader at least - thanks for the comment!), but I have navigated across downtown Napoli TWICE in the last week and survived, so I think my tardiness can be excused.  (Napoli, or at least the bit we were in, is an absolute hole - and I say that as someone who has lived in some of the most crime-ridden, grim spots in England over the years.  But, hey - they love football....)

So, it's getting towards the end of our first full day in Sorrento and we're already fans of the little bar at the end of the road which is run by a Dean Martin fan who is Richard Harris' Italian brother (by the looks of him).  Typically for Northerners at the start of the holiday, we're struggling to shake off home - carrying unnecessary jumpers and coats in heavy bags, even though there's no chance rain, and thinking about the football...

The telly in the bar is being drowned out by Dean (Martin, not Windass), but it is set to the BBC who have the running headlines at the bottom of the screen.

About 15 mins of seeing the Man City v Liverpool result flash up, we work out that they aren't going to give all the premiership football results and, we seem to have missed out on the Sports round-up.

Out with our phones.  The Orange Wap sports service is pretty ace (hello Ross, hello Chris!) and I don't say that just because I used to work there.  Aaaaaarrrggggghhhhh - no idea why, but we can't get onto wap.  We start to wonder if the Uk is still there, such is the doomladen tone of the BBC's coverage of the financial crisis.

Text Andy and he tells us:  Tottenham Hotspur 0 Hull City 1.

"Wheeeeen the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine - that's amore" do de doo doooo.... 

So - thanks Hull City for doing so bloody well.  It's your fault I had "just one more glass of wine" and therefore felt grumpy and headachy on our day trip to Capri!

Is it tempting fate to count up that this season Hull have already beaten 3 London clubs and we meet West Ham next saturday? Subs across the country are ready with "Hull 4 London 0" headlines.

Hoping to get tickets for Saturday.  If not at the KC, will definitely be in Yorkshire anyway cheering on.

Predictions?

This feels like winning the World Cup, the FA Cup, going to No 1, getting an Oscar etc etc.

Highlights:

It's the goal of the season and let's just talk about Hull City here - they were magnificent:  Shearer

Arsene talking about getting beaten by West Brom.

The Times filing their match report without mentioning whippets, council estates, 39 year old strikers, oop north and without using the word "plucky".

A Derby fan pointing out that Hull have already achieved the 11 points Derby managed in their fateful / fatal season.

Getting congratulations from a Man U fan!

Reading the Football 365 Mailbox and seeing that Hull are being adopted as many people's 2nd team.

We weren't at the Emirates, we were at a family do in the Lake District.  Turned on the radio in the car as soon as we could, just before half time.  Utterly elated when we realised we were still 0-0 (hahahhahahahahaha).

Driving through winding country roads the tension was increased because the 5Live commentry kept zoning out:  "...And here's Eboue in the penalty area mmmbbuuummm suuuussshhhhmm nnnnnneeeeeeesssssssshhhh and mmmmummbbbb excellent defending from Turner...." 

So, we've made history right?  And you don't need me to recount it.  I will never forget us driving down a wee single lane country road, Steve and I almost exploding with excitement as -

1st - we equalised with a wonder goal (love Geo's Brazilian super-casualness as he decides what he's doing)

2nd - went ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (no apologies for the exclamation marks).  It's such a good job we didn't pass anyone on that road - not just because the excitement levels made the driving extremely reckless, but because we probably looked as though we were re-enacting the Bohemian Rhapsody scene from Waynes World.

Nailbiting (literally in my case) end to the game - all of us sat in a pub car park listening to the car radio.

Andy and Cath - if you're reading - we don't think you're Jonahs anymore!!!!!

And so I wondered (as Carrie Bradshaw says) will Spurs wake up and play well, or we simply not let them?

Dawson v Dawson. 

The only bad thing about this result is that teams will be better prepared from now on, better than Wenger, at least they will know who they are playing.

(apologies if there are typos all over this - keyboard playing up...)

Football Focus just now.

At the end of the show, with no context whatsoever Manish blurts:  "And so we must just make a mention of this season's surprise package - Hull City..."

Woooo-hooooooo!

"...5th at the moment..."

Woooo-hooooooo!

"...and still looking strong - so what about that then Lawro?"

Cut to Lawrenson trying to rearrange his miserable hangdog features into something cheerful and benign that won't scare children.  He waffles some vague stuff about what a great achievement it is, Brown is doing a great job, hope Fagan is doing ok after that horrific tackle etc. etc.

OK - who sent the death threats to the BBC forcing them to do this?????

Also loved the ludicrously dodgy camera work in the Ruud Gullit interview - made us feel seasick.  Steve reckons it's the same cameraman that does Dragons Den ("Over here Evan!")

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

You might have heard something about Newcastle having a few difficulties?

During the international break they had plenty of time to appoint a new manager and that was the worry for Hull fans - that they'd get someone sh*t hot and enjoy the boost from a new leader.

Well, this being Newcastle, that didn't happen.  I'm not going to gloat about their troubles, have had a few good nights out there in the past and these clubs with history are the ones we've been looking forward to playing against.

But - I would love it, just love it if we beat them!

Father-in-law is at the match - right high up he says later.  A really good view, but feeling somewhat disconnected.

Most amused by Manish on Football Focus everytime he says Haaahhll in his BBC accent (there's been a fan for a number of years who shouts out "Cahm on Haahhll" in the same way - it's hard to spell, think Paul Whitehouse doing the "with my reputation character").

We're back with Burnsie listening to Radio Humberside (change the name BBC!).

Goal!  Protest! Protest!  Goal!  Condede...Win!

Hull City have beaten Newcastle, playing in the same formation that the Messiah created for them.  Hull City have contained Michael Owen - and beaten Shay Given twice.

Are you watching Wigan, Lawro?

Yeah, yeah - according to all the experts it's all because of Newcastle's troubles, rather than Hull City's skills...

And if we beat Everton (which we won't now I've typed that...) everyone will say it's because of Everton's problems blah blah...

Bring it on anyway.

Everyone is on the Hull City bandwagon now, so bro and sister in law join us for the Wigan game.

Cath is a ManU fan.  We tease her by making her name current players, hoping she will say George Best, but to be fair, she has inherited her allegiance from her dad.

Back in the North Stand again, but quite high up this time and not all together.

Chris Kirkland looks even more fragile (he's made of biscuits) close up.

So this will be easy then....

Father-in-law looks apprehensive - not happy about Brown starting, but we've got injuries and King can't play because he's on loan...

You know what happened.  Slaughter.  Wiganners are singing "You're going down with the Bolton" and "You're not singing anymore" "Are you watching Marlon King".  That wakes the fans up a bit and we make a big point of singing and cheering the lads (who look bloody miserable).

Why allow the last goal - it's just cruel!  (yeah yeah - I know it did go over the line, but really...)

To be fair.  Wigan look good - not the uninspired thudders they were under Paul Jewell - and don't laugh at Heskey - big, strong - oooh too good for our wee lads like Dawson.

Mendy looks awful!

They make us look Championship, the only silver lining is that this was a team of necessity, not choice.

Watch MOTD in a completely depressed state - blame  Andy and Cath - they have jonahed (sp) us!

Listened on the radio to this.

Can get match commentary on Radio Humberside, but not on the digital version - bloody stupid!

There was a fair bit of apprehension about this game - esp as the Boat was injured and Blackburn looked pretty good last season.

I remember hating Ince in his playing days at Scum (one of the most slappable faces in football), so quite happy to believe that his team would be rubbish.

Nailbiting stuff, with Burnsie sounding apoplectic at times.

A draw - still unbeaten in the Prem! Still in Champions League position! Still wiping the smug smile off Lawro's face!

Still feeling completely and utterly unreal.

So here's a quick re-cap

1st game of the season:  Home v Fulham

Fab atmosphere.  Eardrums blown off when everyone cheered for Deano.

Jimmy Bullard surprisingly doesn't look as old in "real life".

Not having a season ticket we're up in the North Stand - for this game not too high up and pretty close to the goal - great view.

1st experience of the glorious (and highly camp) chant "You're being mauled by the tigers!" with hand movements to match.

Father-in-law who has been following Hull for 20-odd years had the hugest smile on his face.

More firsts.  We'll be on Match of the Day tonight!  Hahahaha - really can't wait to see the look on Lawro's face